पुरापतन्नधोज्वाल ऊर्ध्वज्वालो यदा धृतः
Formerly, when the downward flame was falling, the upward flame was held.
ज्वालाभिः प्रज्वलन्नूर्ध्वं सर्वशब्दस्फुलिंगवान्
Blazing upward with flames, he emitted all sounds and sparks.
किमर्थं तु त्वया देव भूमिभक्षं निवारितम्
For what reason, O god, did you restrain the devouring of the earth?
एवमुक्तोऽग्नये ब्रह्मा स्वरोमाणि जुहाव सः
Thus addressed, Brahma offered his own hairs into Agni.
अब्रवीच्च न मे तृप्तिर्न च मे देहनिर्वृतिः 5.1.4.
He said: I have no satisfaction, nor any delight in my body.
अब्रवीत्तं तदा वह्निस्तृप्तिर्नास्ति ममेति हि
Then Agni spoke: There is no satisfaction for me.
अब्रवीच्च न मे तृप्तिर्न च मे देहनिर्वृतिः
He said: I have neither satisfaction nor comfort in my body.
ततो धात्रा हुताशाय कृतो देहो विधातुकः । तमदेहमथो दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्माणमवदच्च सः
Then, by the Creator, a body was made for the Fire, intended for the task; and seeing that body, he spoke to Brahma.
अहो ब्रह्मन्न मे तृप्तिर्न च मे देहनिर्वृतिः। कुद्धेण ब्रह्मणा सोऽग्निर्हुंकारेण द्विधा कृतः
Ah, Brahma, I have neither satisfaction nor comfort in my body; angered, Brahma split the Fire with a shout.
आहतू रुदतावग्नी आहारार्थं प्रजापतिम्
Struck and weeping, the Fire sought food from Prajapati.
त्रयस्तेषां रुदंति स्म रुदन्ह्येको ह्यसंवृतः
Three of them were crying; one cried openly, unrestrained.
रोरूयमाणे चाग्नौ तु पुनर्ब्रह्मा कृपान्वितः
As the Fire was wailing, Brahma, filled with compassion, acted again.
स कालस्तस्य कामस्य सा वृत्तिः संप्रकल्पिता
That time, that desire, that function was established for him.
हुंकाराग्निः प्रजज्वाल किमेतदिति चाब्रवीत्
The fire of the shout blazed forth, and he said: What is this?
देवमध्ये बहिर्वापि मुनीनामाश्रमेषु च 5.1.4.
Whether among the gods, outside, or in the hermitages of sages.
अहमेवं प्रदास्यामि पुनः पुनरुवाच ह
I myself will provide thus, he said again and again.
साभिमानोऽपमानो वा हुंकारो यत्र कथ्यते
Where pride or insult is spoken, there the shout is uttered.
इकाराग्निं समाहूय ब्रह्मा वचनम ब्रवीत्
Summoning the fire of the letter 'i', Brahma spoke these words.
उकाराग्निं समाहूय ब्रह्मा वचनमब्रवीत्
Summoning the fire of the letter 'u', Brahma spoke these words.
अहं च ते विधास्यामि स्थानमाहारमेव च
I will arrange for you a place and food as well.
यतोऽग्निर्व्यास तेनोक्तो गिरौ दुर्गे महामुने
Therefore, Fire said to Vyasa: in the mountain, in the fortress, O great sage.
सोऽपि भिन्नः समाहूतो ब्रह्मणा स्थानलिप्सया
He too, divided, was summoned by Brahma, desiring a place.
तस्मात्त्वं संस्कृतां वाणीं द्विजातीनां प्रकाशय
Therefore, you should reveal the refined speech of the twice-born.
तस्माद्द्विजातेर्विज्ञेया वाणी पुण्या प्रकाशिता
Therefore, the speech of the twice-born is to be understood as pure and revealed.
अनृताक्षरविन्यासादमंगल्या ह्यसंस्कृता 5.1.4.
Due to the arrangement of false syllables, they are inauspicious and unpurified.
आहूय भूयोऽकाराग्निं प्रजापतिरचक्षुषम्
Then, having summoned again the fire of the letter 'a', the Lord of Creatures made it without sight.
ब्रह्माणमाह वह्निस्तु वाचोहं मुखमस्मि हे
The fire said to Brahmā: 'I am the mouth of speech.'
ब्रह्मा तमाह यस्मात्त्वं तेजःस्थानं समीहसे
Brahmā said to him: 'Because you desire the place of brilliance—'
यस्मात्तेजः प्रपश्यंति चक्षुर्भवति दुर्बलम्
Because, seeing your radiance, the eye becomes weakened—
इकारमथ संभिन्नमग्निमाह पितामहः
Then, having separated the letter 'i', the Grandfather addressed the fire.